§ 11. Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of unemployment in Merthyr Tydfil and the Rhymney valley; and what percentage increase this is over the figures for May 1979.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsOn 14 February 1985 the number of unemployed claimants in the Merthyr and Rhymney travel-to-work area was 10,781. Comparable figures for May 1979 are not available because of changes to travel-to-work area boundaries and the move to claimant-based figures.
§ Mr. RowlandsAmong those horrifying figures is the total job loss after the closure of Hymac. Does the Secretary of State recall the repeated appeals that we all made to him and to the Government to act to stop the dumping of Japanese products on our market? Only now, after all those jobs have been lost, have the Government imposed a 33.33 per cent. tariff on Japanese products coming on to our market. Will the right hon. Gentleman take heed of this sad lesson and support action against cheap and unsafe lifebelts, domestic appliances and washing machines coming on to the British market and take more direct action to protect our jobs? The Secretary of State did nothing for Hymac.
§ Mr. EdwardsThe hon. Gentleman is aware that we have to provide evidence and obtain the agreement of the Community to take such measures. As a country which not only benefits enormously from international trade but is increasing its exports, Britain must be exceedingly careful about the way in which that is done. As I have told the hon. Gentleman frequently, if he will provide evidence, I shall be happy to pass it on to the Department of Trade and Industry, which is responsible for these matters.